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Eleven non-governmental organizations have decided to practice what they preach on responsible behaviour by creating a voluntary code of conduct covering their own operations.
The organizations, all large international bodies, including ActionAid, Amnesty, Greenpeace and Oxfam, have produced the code partly in response to criticism that NGOs are quick to demand high accountability standards from companies but often fail to apply those standards to their own operations.
The code, formally known as the Accountability Charter, is believed to be the first for NGOs. All international NGOs will be invited to sign up.
Signatories undertake to report at least once a year on their activities and achievements. This is likely to prompt them to produce a non-financial report, which only a handful of NGOs do at present.
Other parts of the code commit signatories to:
work in ‘genuine partnership’ with local communities and other organizations on sustainable development
adhere to ‘generally accepted standards of technical accuracy and honesty’ when presenting data and research
be ‘responsible’ in public criticisms of individuals and organizations, ‘ensuring such criticism amounts to fair public comment’.
The NGOs anticipate that the code will develop over time. ‘Next steps will involve putting in place a robust system for reporting and [a] review of the charter so it can be improved and updated in light of experience,’ they said.
The organizations, all large international bodies, including ActionAid, Amnesty, Greenpeace and Oxfam, have produced the code partly in response to criticism that NGOs are quick to demand high accountability standards from companies but often fail to apply those standards to their own operations.
The code, formally known as the Accountability Charter, is believed to be the first for NGOs. All international NGOs will be invited to sign up.
Signatories undertake to report at least once a year on their activities and achievements. This is likely to prompt them to produce a non-financial report, which only a handful of NGOs do at present.
Other parts of the code commit signatories to:
work in ‘genuine partnership’ with local communities and other organizations on sustainable development adhere to ‘generally accepted standards of technical accuracy and honesty’ when presenting data and researchbe ‘responsible’ in public criticisms of individuals and organizations, ‘ensuring such criticism amounts to fair public comment’. The NGOs anticipate that the code will develop over time. ‘Next steps will involve putting in place a robust system for reporting and [a] review of the charter so it can be improved and updated in light of experience,’ they said.
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